Spotted Tongue Sole

Paraplagusia bilineata

The Spotted Tongue Sole has very peculiar flat body and drab speckled colouration. Its flattened body is due to connected caudal and anal fins, producing elongated shapes up to 40 cm long. The two eyes have moved around onto the same side of the body. This body shape and colouration allows the fish to lie flat on the seabed, disappearing into the silty sand background. These fish are virtually invisible when they lie still and only give themselves away when they dart off the seabed in short quick bursts.